Italian photographer Alex Wides, also known as Alessandro Cantarelli, has claimed the prestigious title of Open Photographer of the Year at the 2025 Epson International Pano Awards, one of the world's largest competitions dedicated to panoramic photography. He dazzled the judging panel with his breathtaking panoramic works titled "Last Fireworks," "Jackpot," and "Mann," which transport viewers into the heart of sublime landscapes transformed into immersive visions.
"I want to offer those who cannot travel a piece of my expeditions, a virtual journey through my panoramas," Wides explained about his award-winning work. His winning collection includes a stunning 360-degree panorama captured in the Algerian desert during a ten-day nomadic expedition, showcasing the raw beauty of one of the world's most challenging environments. Another remarkable image features a 360-degree panorama captured in northern Norway, taken after several unsuccessful attempts due to harsh weather conditions, at the precise moment when the sky illuminated with northern lights for half an hour.
Wides' third winning photograph presents a 270-degree panorama captured in the Italian Dolomites, shot under a winter full moon at temperatures of 5°F (-15°C) using a Sony A6600 camera. This technically challenging shot demonstrates the photographer's dedication to capturing extraordinary moments in extreme conditions, highlighting his mastery of both artistic vision and technical expertise.
The competition, founded in 2009 by Australian photographer David Evans and supported by Epson, attracts thousands of images from around the world annually. For this 16th edition, judges praised the rising prominence of ultra-wide formats, from drone photography to virtual reality applications, and celebrated the creativity of a generation of photographers exploring the far reaches of the globe.
"This year, the boundaries of panoramic photography have been pushed even further," summarized Evans, noting the innovative approaches and technical advancements displayed in the submissions. The competition featured several other notable winners across different categories, showcasing the diverse talent in contemporary panoramic photography.
Among the other distinguished winners, finalist Vitaly Golovatyuk created an impressive aerial photograph from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong at sunset. His work was manually composed of 48 images taken with a DJI Phantom 3 Pro drone, which were then assembled and inverted to create an abstract composition of the city and sky, demonstrating innovative post-processing techniques.
Kevin Nyun earned the title of "Amateur Photographer of the Year" with his spectacular work in the Bolivian highlands at nearly 16,400 feet altitude. His portfolio includes images taken during a snowshoeing expedition on New Year's Eve in the northwestern United States, featuring a panorama composed of six exposures. Another standout piece shows the Bolivian highlands near Uyuni, presenting a 21-image panorama in single exposure representing an ancient volcanic crater.
The awards also recognized specialized categories, with Daniel Viñé from Spain winning the 2025 Epson Digital Art Prize for his photograph taken in a coastal village in Vietnam, capturing women mending fishing nets in a scene that beautifully documents traditional maritime culture. Chris Byrne from the United States received the 2025 Curator's Prize for his landscape photography taken in August in the alpine meadows of Mount Rainier in Washington State, showcasing the natural beauty of the American Pacific Northwest.
The Epson International Pano Awards continue to serve as a premier platform for panoramic photographers worldwide, celebrating both technical innovation and artistic vision while inspiring virtual travel experiences for audiences who may not have the opportunity to witness these magnificent landscapes in person. The competition's growth over its 16-year history reflects the increasing popularity and sophistication of panoramic photography as an art form.
